Interior Design Show - Toronto

Image: Christopher Solar Design

So many covetable things at this year's design show.  We started at nine am and by noon I was at risk of Stendhal syndrome 
and sought relief outside beneath a grey Toronto sky. I'm still processing. And unpacking two totes full of samples, cards, and brochures. It was good. I will bring smelling salts to revive myself next year. 

Some of my favourite things? This beauty is near the top of the list. White oak, made in Ottawa by Christopher Solar, the Pentagon Credenza retails for $2,985.  It's the right height for a TV or turntable and skinny enough to work in a condo. 

Image: Surfaces & Co. 

The booth at Surfaces & Co. was literally elbow to elbow with designers snapping pics of these extraordinary custom tiles that mix brushed gold metal with marble and glass.

As you might guess, the price is not for the faint of heart. But a little goes a long way, so with a bit of clever planning it's possible to pair a $$$$ tile with a $$ tile. I'll post some ideas on that subject later. 

Image: Lightmaker Studio

Sculptural, beautiful and made in Toronto's Distillery District, I fell hard for The Betty ceiling fixture on the left. She retails for around $2,500 with an eight-week lead time. 

I think sconces are an underused light source, don't you? They do require electrical planning, so it's best if there's a reno going on and the walls are open. Outside of framing a bathroom mirror, I don't think we use them enough. ​Another future blog post!

Image: Hamilton Holmes Woodworking & Design

Made in Hamilton from Canadian Black Walnut with a woven seat, this bench is part sculpture, part heirloom and part utility. I love the perfect mortise and tenon joinery, barely - but importantly - visible. It says "Hey man, I did not come from West Elm."